Dan Houser Advocates for Selling Game Discs If Players Desire Them

Grand Theft Auto V made its debut on physical discs across three console generations, but GTA VI is set to break that mold with a digital-only release this fall. In a recent chat at San Diego Comic Con, Dan Houser, the franchise’s former lead writer and co-founder of Rockstar Games, shared his thoughts on the decline of physical games. While he personally isn’t bothered by the shift, he believes companies should cater to fans who still appreciate physical copies.

“I don’t know that I care, but if people want that, I think companies should provide it,” Houser mentioned. “But I don’t know that I personally care. And I also think that the ability to update games, as critical as people are of digital releases, the ability to update and fix problems in games has been really useful for the quality of games.”

After leaving Rockstar a few years back, Houser co-founded a new media venture called Absurd Ventures. His colleague, Lazlow Jones, who also contributed to the GTA series, expressed a more nostalgic view on physical games. “I mean, we all have that sort of feeling when you get that copy and you put the disc in the console,” Jones said. “But I also have to say I really like being at the airport and going ‘oh cool, I can download some quick games to my Steam Deck for this 12-hour flight.’”

Both writers recently launched a monthly comic book titled American Caper with Dark Horse, highlighting the joy of having something tangible to hold after the creative process. “I love physical media,” Houser said, referring to the comic. “I think everyone does.”

However, not everyone shares that sentiment. Sony has faced significant backlash for its decision to phase out PlayStation discs for new games starting in 2028. The company drew criticism over the weekend for promoting a turntable for vinyl music while simultaneously moving away from physical games. “Rediscover the warmth, detail, and ritual of vinyl with the LX3 Turntable,” one of the company’s social media accounts posted. “Drop the needle, press play, and enjoy music the way it was meant to be heard.”

“Sony makes good money on turntables, but the few cents it costs them to press records for their most popular product is apparently too much,” quipped one observer.